A municipality

Sometimes we forget that when we talk about a municipality, according to the legislation in South Africa, we are referring to:

(i) the political structures and administration of the municipality; and

(ii) the community of the municipality

A municipality functions in its area in accordance with the political, statutory and other relationships between its political structures, political office bearers and administration and its community.

This understanding is important so that people don't feel offended when we raise concerns about any kind of behaviour we perceive as unsatisfactory. By law, the municipality is not an entity existing on its own nor for its own function. It is only a legal entity along with the community within which it exists, and exists only to serve.

In the coming weeks, I want to share some thoughts on Local Government as a resident of Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. My approach will focus on community participation, and I hope we will engage as much as possible.

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Ngamanye amaxesha siyalibala ukuba xa sithetha ngomasipala, ngokomthetho waseMzantsi Afrika, sibhekisa:

(i) kmacandelo ezopolitiko nolawulo lukamasipala;

(ii) nakuluntu lukamasipala

Umasipala usebenza kwingingqi yakhe ngokuhambelana nezopolitiko, umthetho kunye nobudlelwane obunye phakathi kwemibutho yakhe yezopolitiko, amagosa ezopolitiko kunye nolawulo kunye noluntu lwakhe.

Oku kuqonda kubalulekile ukuze abantu bangakhubeki xa sivakalisa inkxalabo ngalo naluphi na uhlobo lokuziphatha esikubona njengokunganelisiyo. Ngokomthetho, umasipala ayiloqumrhu elizimeleyo okanye elinomsebenzi walo. Liziko elisemthethweni kuphela xa lithe lama kunye nabahlali elisekelwe bona, kwaye likhona kuphela ukunceda nezidingo zabo.

Kwezi veki zizayo, ndifuna ukwabelana ngeengcinga ezithile ngoRhulumente waseKhaya njengomhlali kuMasipala waseNelson Mandela Bay. Injongo yam kugxila ekuthatheni inxaxheba koluntu, kwaye ndiyathemba ukuba sizokwabelana kangangoko sinakho.

By Olwam Mnqwazi

Photo by Loyiso Mali